Machine for filling, closing, and sealing bags



Aug. 4, 1936. w. N. BAKER ET AL 2,049,757

MACHINEFOR FILLING, CLOSING, AND SEALING BAGS Filed Nov. 25, 1935 llSheets-Sheet. l

All@ 4, 1936 w. N. BAKER ET Al. 2,049,757

MACHINE FOR FILLING,-CLOSING, AND SEALING BAGS INVENTOR WEBSTER N. BAKERBYROBERT N. CUNDLL Aug. 4, 1936.

W. N. vBAKER ET AL MACHINE FOR FILLING. CLOSING, AND SEALING BAGS 11sheets-shew :s

Filed Nov. 25, 1935 C) INVENTOR '-1-' g WEBSTER N. BAKER B'\... I ROBERTN. CUNDALL AT'roRN ug 4, 1936` W. N BAKER- ET AL A 2,049,757

MACHINE FOR FILLING, CLOSING, AND SEALING BAGS Filed Nov. 25, 1935 llSheets-Sheet 4 Lf I W y INVENTOR WEBSTER N. BAKER ROBERT N. CUNDALLATTORN Aug. 4, 1936.`

MACHINE FOR FILLING, CLOSING, AND SEALING BAGS W. N. BAKER ET AL FiledNOV. 25, 1935 ll Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR WEBSTER N. BAKER BQBERT N.CUNDALL ATTORNE Aug' 4, 1936- W` N. BAKER ET AL 2,049,757

MACHINE FOR FILLING, CLOSING, AND SEALING BAGS Filed Nov. 25, 1955 l1Sheets-Sheet 6 www 6 FMZVE Allg. 4, 1936 W. N. BAKER ET A1. 2,049,757

MACHINE FOR FILLING, CLOSING, AND SEALING BAGS Filed Nov. 25, 1935 11sheets-sheet '7A INVENTOR WEBSTER N. BAKER OBERT N. CUNDALL ATTORN EYAug- 4, 1936- W. N'. BAKER ET AL 2,049,757

MACHINE FOR FILLING, CLOSING, AND SEALING BAGS Filed Nov. 25, 1935 11sheets-sheet s Tic'l.

INVENTOR WEBSTER N. BAKER ROBERT N. CUNDALL ATTORN Aug. 4, 1936. w. N.BAKER ET AL MACHINE FOR- FLLING, CLOSING, AND SEALING BAGS Filed Nov.25, 1955 l1 Sheets-Sheet 9 asl INVENTOR WEBSTER N BAKER ROBERT N.CUNDALL /g i ATTOR Aug. 4, 1936. w. N. BAKER ET Al.

v MACHINE FOR FILLING, CLOSING, AND SEALING BAGS Filed Novi 25, 1955` 1lSheets-Shea?l 10 A RMD mAw ma.;

N u v N m mmT m TR ma eoY wn 7. all

Aug. 4, 1936. w. N. BAKER ET AL MACHINE FOR FILLING, CLOSING, -ANDsEALING BAGS Filed Nov. 25, 1955 11 Sheets-Sheet 11 L RKD OAN MBU N a .cR VN m NRN T IET A TR mx E Y ww@ Patented Aug.. 4%.. 191936 WebsterNoyes Baker,

` Gundall, Lackawanna,

pak, lino., New York, Delaware Baldwin, and Robert N.

N. Y., assignors to Bag- N. Y., a corporation o Application November 25,1935, Serial No. 51,492

2o claims. (ci. 22e-5e) The present invention relates to a machine forlining, closing and sealing bags, particularly paper bags of themulti-ply open mouthtype adapted to contain from 50 to 100 pounds, moreor less,

' of pulverulent or granular materials. 'The`present invention isespecially designed for use in such plants as have a uctuating output,of which the peaks may be relatively high, but are not sustained for anygreat length of time. The invention is of special utility in plantswhich require machines having some of the advantages, but not theconstant, high speed operation of machines such as disclosed in thecopending applications of Robert N. Cundall and Lincoln A. Cundall,Serial No. 688,816, filed September 9, 1933, and of Howland F. Briggs,Serial No. 19,396, filed May 2, 1935, and which also require machineshaving all the advantages of, and a greater capacity than, ma-

chines such as disclosed in the copending applications of RobertN.Cundall and Lincoln A. Cundall, Serial No. 680,538, filed July 15, 1933,and Serial No. 757,772, led December 17, 1934.

In particular, the machine comprises means for storing the material asit is manufactured, in a storage bin from the bottom of which a bagfilling charge is removed as often as desired. The removing meansoperates concurrently with an automatic weighing device of a well knowntype,- operating to segregate a correct charge from the remainder. It issuicient to state that the weighing device is preferably of the typewhich has a weighing container within which an exactly weighed charge isreceived and held until discharged into the bag. Positioned beneath theweighing device is a hopper terminating at its lower end in an ovalshaped filling spout about which the mouth of a bag may be placed andretained in position by suitable bag holding grippers, to be described.`The operator, after placing the bag, starts the apparatus with theresult that the charge is placed in the bag and the lled bag is loweredonto a roller conveyor table andre1 leased from the grippers, as will bedescribed. The bag is then placedin a closing and sealing mechanismwhere thev open end of the bag is stitched and sealed by means of agummed tape. The advantages oi the present construction are that theoperator of the filling machine may place and fill bags fairly'rapidlysince he need not follow the bag through the closing machine, and theconstruction of the closing and sealing machine prevents it fromoperating unless bags are i continuously presented thereto. Inasmuchasvthe weighing, bag placing and bag filling operations requireconsiderable. time, the closing and sealing rthe advantages to bederived from mechanism is arrange bag is placed therein bag hasprogressed a suiiicient' distance to allow the insertion of a succeedingbag. In this fashion conservation of sewing thread and sealing tape isassured.

An object of the present invention is to provide a bag filling andclosing machine, particularly suitable for materials which should not beexposed to the atmosphere for any length of time. Most materials can beexposed without harmful effect, but some materials may vnot onlydetericrate, but may combine with moisture in the atmosphere to produceforeign products harmful to the machine'and to the material of the bags.An example of such material is caustic soda which, upon exposure to theatmosphere tends to cake and lump, and also tends to form caustic whichcorrodes the metal of the machine. Ilihe present object is attained bycausing the material to be fed from a storage bin through asubstantially closed feeding mechanism,y into a substantially closedweighing mechanism, from which it is discharged with the least possiblecontact with the atmosphere.

Another object of the present invention is to combine the advantages ofintermittent operation oi the lweighing and filling mechanism withcontinuous opmechanism, in intermittently to operate only when a erationof the closing and sealing spite of the latter mechanism being operated.

' Another object of the present invention is to devise mechanismsuitable for use in conjunction with the aforementioned mechanism forreceiving the filled bag as it is progressed from the filling stationinto the subsequent closing mechanism.' This receiving mechanism is animprovement upon similar structure described and claimed in thecopending application of Robert N. Cundall and Lincoln A. Cundall,Serial No. 666,- 114, filed April 14, 1933, and comprises opposed,separable belts between which the mouth of the and to stop as soon asthe4 trader bag may be positioned and gripped. The present improvementconcerns itself with the provision of a fixed bag mouth gripping andfeeding belt and a cooperating movable bag mouth feeding and grippingbelt which may be moved away from the fixed belt in order to provide awide mouth within which the bag is positioned.

Another object of the present provide such a bag receiving mechanismcapable of use in connection with the entire combination, or as means toreceive a filled bag from any source whatsoever.

invention is to Another object of the present invention is to providemechanical means to progress the lled bag from beneath a filling spoutinto the aforementioned receiving mechanism, the mechanical means beingof such a nature as to relieve the operator from severe labor in amachine of the type which requires manual guiding of the bag mouth fromthe lling station to the feeding belts of the closing station.

Other and further objects and advantages will be apparent from thefollowing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawingswherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 presents a front elevation of the machine, partially in schematicrepresentation;

Fig. 2 is anenlarged plan view taken along line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is ank end elevation of the mechanism of Fig. 2, taken along line3 3;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged end elevation of the mechanism of Fig. 1,partially in 'schematic representation;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the charge feeding mechanism, taken on line 5 5of Fig. 4 andV having the cover and storage'bin removed therefrom;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the lower portion of Fig. 4, showinggreater details of the mechanism;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged horizontal cross-section taken on line 1 1 of Fig.6;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged horizontal cross-section taken online 8 8 of Fig.6;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged horizontal cross-section taken on line 9 9 of Fig.6;

Fig. 10 is an enlargedvertical cross-section taken on line |,0 of Fig.8;

Fig. 1l is an enlarged vertical cross-section taken on line of Fig. 7; V

Fig. 12 is an enlarged vertical cross-section taken on line |2 |2 ofFig. 7;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged vertical cross-section taken on line |3 |3 ofFig. 9;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged vertical cross-section taken on line |4 |4 ofFig. 8; 7' Fig.^1,5 is'a schematic wiring diagram for the bag closingand. sealing mechanism;

IFiglia? is a schematic wiring diagram for the charge feeding andweighing mechanism; p

Fig. 17 is a vertical cross-'section taken on line |1 I1 ofFig. 6; 'i

f Fig.' 18 is an enlarged front elevationlof the progressing means formechanicallyi assisting in the removal of the filled bag from thellingstation to the bag receiving end of the closing' `mechanism; Y

Fig. 19 is a cross-sectional view taken on line l9|s of Fig. 1s;

Fig. 20 is a view similar to Fig. 18, showing the mechanism inoperation; 'I

Fig. 21 is a detail View of a portion of the mechanism, on an enlargedscale, taken on line Fig. 221s a detail view, onlan enlarged scale,taken on lineA 22 22 of Fig. 20 and looking in the direction of thearrows;

Fig. 23 is a plan ,view of a modified form of the apparatus shown inFig. 2; n

' Fig. 24 is a front elevation of the same;

Fig. 25 is an end elevation taken fromthe position of line 25 25 andlooking in the direction of thearrows; y

Fig. 26 is a detail view of a portion of the mechanism of Figs. 23, 24,and 25;

Fig. 27 is a vertical cross-section taken on line 21 21 of Fig. 24; W

Fig. 28 is a detail view of a portion of the l mechanism of Figs. 23,24, and 25 Fig. 29 is an enlarged view of a portion of the drivingmechanism; and

Fig. 30 is a cross-section taken on line 30-30 of Fig. 29. lo

Referring to Fig. 1, there is indicated at 2|) the lower end cfa storagebin of sufficient capacity to absorb peak outputs and retain thematerial until such time as an operator is set to work at filling andclosing bags. A screw type conveyor 15 2|, positioned beneath the bin,feeds material into the weighing device V22 which is provided with ascale beam 23 and counterbalance 24. Beneath the weighing device is ahopper 25 terminating at its lower end in an oval shaped 20 fillingspout 26, such as the type disclosed and claimed in copendingapplication of Howland F. Briggs, Serial No. 757,761, filed December 17,1934. Shelf 21, mounted upon the filling spout, may supl port a samplecontainer 28 into which a sample25 of the charge may be drawn through avalved outlet 29. Suitable grippers 30 and 3| are mounted, 'one at eachside of the filling spout, to receive and clamp the upper corners of anopen mouth bag during the filling operation. The grippers 30 arepreferably of the type disclosed and claimed in theaforementionedapplication of Howland F. Briggs, Serial No. 19,396, led May 2, 1935. Asthe bag is being filled, a bag slapping mechanism 32 is actuated rapidlyto slap the side of the bag 35 and thereby settle the contents., Afterthe bag is filled, it will be lowered, by mechanism to be described,onto a roller table 33 in which are mounted idle rolls 34, and releasedfrom the grippers which are thereafter raised toV bag receiving posi- 4otion. The operator now grasps the corners of the bag and rolls itforward into the bag closing and sealing mechanism, where its mouth isadjusted to the proper height, gripped by belts and fed into the closingand' sealing mechanism, as will 45 be described after suitabledescription 'of the details of the bag filling machine.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, it is seen thatthe lower end of the bin 20merges into the receiving throat of the material feeding device 2l. The5o feeding device comprises right and left hand conveying screws 40 and4|, which compactly feed the material withoutvinjuriously compressingit, extending forward into the delivering portion 43, which terminatesin a downwardly extending 55 opening 44 positioned above the ,weighingdevice. 'mie screws are driven by means of gears 45 and 46, meshing withworms (not shown) fixed to a 'driving shaft 41. Shaft 41 is driven by abelt 48 shaft. -An .outerclutch plate 50 is urged toward the pulley 49by 4means of a spring 5| and an inner clutch plate 52 is urged towardthe pulley 49 by passing about a pulley 49 loosely mounted on the 60acconto 3 scale beam 23 is preferably provided with a switch from thepath or the clutch doglever 9i. The y e2 of any well known type adaptedto be closed i clutch is thereby engaged and shaft 'ie combythe dumpingof the previously weighed charge. mohoes to rotate, Shafts @3 and 86 aredriven, The switch may be placed adjacent other suitable und roller 95engages the Circuler high portion of moving parts of the scale providedthat it be oem 9e, thereby holding the stop @9 from the path o closed gS0011 'as one charge' has been dumped Of Clutch dOg lever 9i( InaiSmuChasllhe SiZeS 0f I and the scale is empty, in order that a succeeding theVelious sprookets tend to rotate Sheft 36 Very charge may be weighed andheld in readiness for slowly ih Colrliieulsou to Sheft i9, the Clutchdog tho next bag, lever @l will pass through many revolutions bedReferring to Fig. 16, it is seen that when switch fore rolier95 egeludrops into the relieved porlo g2 s closed, the Solenoid o@ will beenergized to tion itl and causes the clutch tobecome dlsen engage theoluion and cause material to be fed. eeged- It eenbe Seen that theoperator is removed to the scale. it is obvious that as soon as thecountrom Controlling the filling machine drive atte terbalance te israised by an accurately weighed he hes initiated e oyole of operations.

@neige of ene materiel, swivon o2 will ne opened The bee is held aboutthe onen mouth or uio i5- and solenoid t@ deenergzed, thereby stoppingthe spout @t by meerls of the erippers Si@ and di, owof material to thescale. which grlppers ere Substantially duplicates in .fin advantage ofthe present construction is* reversed relationship, one 0f which will bedethat the feeding screws lo anddl may be stopped seiihed- 1h Fig 6there is shoWu e fixed gripwithout affecting the operation o the scale,eine low i015 Cooperating With a pivoted gripping merely bydisconnecting the line to die motor so jew Het operated by e, togglecomprising link After' the motor is stopped thev Scale may be vitil and.pivoted lever the. A rod |09, connected -f iripned. to empty the chargeheld therein, without .te lever tot through ball and socket joint ilobeing caused to receive a succeeding load. in (Fig- 7), opens und Closesthe jaws when moved this fashion the scale and filling machine mayleneitudinally- Lever tot is riveted to the upper be emptied at any timethat the operator deL Poitloh. of lXed eJW tilt Which is Supported onsires, thereby assuring that no portion of the; a rod lli. The rod lllis xed to a bracket llt material may be left in contact with the atmos,extending from e hreoed support H5 which is pliers to cake or to corrodethe mechanism. mounted upon the outer end of the gripper Sup- The scalecontainer is opened by suitable scale Porting `erm iti- @ne of thegriopers, in this tripping mechanism controlled by the operatorlhsterloe gripper 3i, iS vertically xed in spaced upon the initiation ofa cycle of operations o the relationship to the sloout The other of thegripbag filling machine. Referring to Figs. Il, 6, and pers is pivotallymounted to rotate about rod il i g @here ls disclosed o, motor i@mounted on a, toward and away from the mouth of the spout in slidingsupport il provided with. an adjusting Order that the erippers may bedrawn together wheel it whereby a belt it driven by the motor to allowspreading of the bag mouth to receive' may be tightened. Belt i3 drivesVa reducing gear the spout, and foroed eport after the bag mouthmechanism i5 of ordinary Construction ondo, is lowered from the spout.Mechanical actuation sprocket 'lo which drives a sprocket chain ii. ofthe pivoting gripper iS obtained by means 0f Chain 'il passes upward andabou a sprocket la movement of rod ltd, pivoted to an arm lil and 40mounted on a Shaft lg to Wllloh is xod o, Sprocket connected to a bellcrank 22 mounted upon the au drlvlng a, chain 3L Chain al posses upward'support lle. The bell crank is rocked by moveto a sprocket 32 xed to ashaft 83 (Figs. d and 8) ment of e 'rod @23 longitudinally With relationt0v A sprocket 8d fixed to shaft 83 drives a sprocket d5, the supportingerm i le. The Opposite end of lgod to a, shaft, ya, by means of o,olfloln am I rod i233 passes through a portion or" the frame sprocket,'lo is loosely mounted with respect, to and isurged toward the rear ofthe machine by shaft 'i9 but is fixed to the driving portion of a espring We Supporting erm @le iS pivotally clutch ou. The driven portionor clutch so is mounted on Shaft te, the shaft beine freely roxed toshaft it, whereby it can be seen that tetehle With respect thereto, andis upwardly shafts le, B3, and 86 are not rotated untiland urged et itsouter end by springs l2@ fixed to the 50 unless the clutch is engaged.The clutch is prorame- When Supporting arm l5 is rocked y vided with aclutch dog of ordinary construction about shaft to, as will beexplained, rod 823 tends and a clutch dog lever di, so mounted in well"to remain stationary, resulting in outward moveknown-fashion as to bespring-urged to engaging ment of pivoted gripper du upon lowering of thei position and positively disengaged `by a meohani- Supporting am Mt,and vice versa. .The gripper cally operated external stop. K operatingmechanism, just described, is similar The clutchis operated by means othe mechato that described and claimed in the copending nism` shown inFig. 12, comprising a manually application of Howland F. Briggs. SerialNo. operated engaging lever and an automatically 19,396, led Mei? 2i935, aforementioned. HOW- operated dsengaging means. The engaging leverever, thepresent arrangement adapts the, device e2 extends to the frontof the machine and isi to Ia stationary spout, whereas thepriorjinvenconnected to a bell crank ed loosely pivoted on a tiondiscloses a moving spout rotating about rlxed vrod dil. The upper arm otthe bell crank is pro-I cams. 1t ,will be appreciated that in thepresent vided with a roller Q5 engaging a cam et fixed to machine thegripper rocking mechanism mayi be shaft to. The lower arm of the bellcrank is condispensed with inasmuch as the bag is manually nected to alink el extending to a member ed handled prior to its insertion in thebag closing pivoted to theirame of the machine. Member ed mechanism, butthat it provides a 4desirable is provided with an axial bore in which ismountmeans 'or keeping the mouth of the bag in order, ed the clutch'stopes, comprising a bolt-like memand is of further utility in preventingthe'escape ber slidably urged outward by means of a spring of dust fromthe bag when removed from the 70.

itil. The operation of this mechanism is that lthe spout.

operator, upon pushing thelever ei-lnwa'rd, dis-1 The gripper supportingarm llo is maintained engages the roller d5 from the relieved portion inits uppermost position during the time that lul of cam et and raisesmember se vtoward a .the machine is idle and during the time that ahorizontal position, thereby removing stop ou charge isbeing dumped intothe bag. After the w bag is filled, it is lowered onto the rollers 34 bythe cams shown in Fig. 10, and released from the grippers by the camsshown in Fig. lil. The grip-,- pers are then returned to their upperpositionv and held open in readiness for the next bag.

The gripper raising and loweringv mechanism comprises (Figs. 8 and 10i.a lowering arm |30,`

and a raising arm |3| loosely mounted upon shaft 83, each of which isprovided with lugs |34 and |35 straddling a. boss |36 at the adjacentside of arm ||6 and provided with adjusting bolts |31 and |38,respectively, bymeans of which the angular relationship of the armsmaybe fixed. Arms |30 and |3| are provided with rollers |40 and |4|,respectively, roller |40 bearing upon gripper lowering cam |42 androller |4| bearing upon gripper raising `cam |43, both of said camsbeing fixed to shaft 06. L

The opening and closing of the grippers is accomplishedby mechanismillustrated in vFiga-6, 7, 8, and 11. The rods |09, extending from thegrippers, pass through the ends of similar levers |50 iixed to rod 94,which is freely rotatable in bearings mounted on the frame. Also xed torod 94 is a pair of cam levers |5| and |52 carrying rollers |53 and I 54respectively. Roller 53 bears upon gripper opening cam |55 and roller|54 bears upon gripper closing cam |56, both of which are fixed to shaft86. The connection of levers |50 to rods |09 is by means of openingsallowing angular shifting therebetween, and springs |51 and |58 exertingpressure against the vends of the levers. In-the position of Fig. 11rods |09 are being urged rearwardly of themachine, thereby opening thegrippers.

' operative position of the cams is such that roller to drop into a lownotch |69.f Yoke |66 is fixed o |53 is in engagement'with the high'portion of l cam |55 thereby holding the grippers open, and roller |54is about to engage the inclined lportion of cam |56 whereby to closethegrippers. The apparently circular portion of cam |56 is slightlyhelical, thereby increasing the pressure upon the. bag mouth as the bagis filled and lowered upon the rolls 34. The grippers are released justprior to' the relatively rapid raising of the gripper'supporting farm||6. 'Ihe operator positions a bag between the open jaws of the raisedgrippers and the rst movement of the machine holdsthe bag, therebylrelieving the operator of gripper closing movements. 'I'he bag spout maybe provided with temporary bag holding means, such as described in theaforementioned application of Howland F. Briggs, Serial No. 19,396, ledMay 2, 1935. i

The scale tripping mechanism' is operated by a cam (Figs. 6, '1, and 14)fixed to shaft y86. A yoke |66, slidably guided by shaft 86. is providedwith a cam following roller |61 urged against the cam by a spring |68.The inoperative position of cam |65 is illustrated in Fig.' 14, showingthat the first few degrees of rotation subsequent to the gripping of thebag causes roller |01 to a rod |10 connected to a bell crank |1|operating the scale tripping rod |12. Immediately after tripping thescales, the rod is returned-to normal position and held until thesucceeding cycle of the machine. y A

Most materials of a pulverulent nature and many granular materials tendto become expanded "upon passage through the air, wherefore means, isprovided to settle the'charge within -the bag.. which comprises aAslapping bar4 |15 l`ad'aptedtostrike rapidly and sharply against thelower. rear side of the bag as it bulges with site facekwith a guidinghook 'Ihe normal, in-

the charge. Bar |15 is actuated by mechanism shown in Figs. 6, 9, and13. The bar is adjustable vertically upon vertical supporting levers |16pivoted to a bracket |11. The upper ends of levers |16 carry a rod |18to which is connected a threaded rod |19v passing through a portion ofthe frame. An adjustable spring urges rod |19 to the rear, movementbeing limited by adjustable nuts |8| which allow angular adjustment oflevers 16 and provide adjustment of the strength of blows struck by theslapping bar; An actuating rod is connected to a vertically adjustablerod |9| fixed to levers 16. Rod |9| extends rearwardly above shaft 19,which rapidlyrotates during the operation of the machine. The rod isprovided' with a block to which is attached an actuating hook 92 and,upon its oppo- |93. A smoothfaced circular disk |94 is nxed to shaft 1s,its upper extremity supporting rod |90 which is re- Atained relativethereto by the spaced hooks |92 and |93. A plurality of rollers |95,mounted upon the face of disk |94, successively engage hook |92, drawingrod |90 rearwardly against the tension of spring |80 which causes theslapping bar 25 to strike a blow as soon as hook |92 is released.Retaining hook |93 passes around and under shaft 19, thereby preventing'vertical displacement of hook |92. Vertical adjustment of rod |9|alters the leverage ratio of levers |16, thereby 30 providing adjustmentof the arcuate travel o! the slapping bar.

The operation of filling a bag having been completed, the fillingmachine comes to rest and the operation of weighing a succeeding chargeterrrii- 35 bag. In order that the bag may be easily moved from itsposition beneath the filling spout into the 45 Areceiving end oftheclosing mechanism, there A is provided progressing means illustrated inFigs.

1 and 18 to 22. inclusive, to yassist the operator in moving the bagforward, which means will be described. 'The said means move the bagonto the end of table'33, which is provided with a plurality of 'rollers200, each driven through a suitable chain of gearing, and each beingprovided with an qverrunningclutch of suitable construction` (Fig. 17).whereby the bag may be 55 rolled forward when the bag closing mechanismis not in operation. The operator adjusts the mouth oi" the bag withinthe bag mouth gripping belts, shown in Figs. 2 and 3 (or the alternativeform shown in Figs. 23 to 28 inclusive)` and starts 60 the.closingmachine, whereupon he may return .to place another bag in the fillingmachine.

The closing machine is driven by a suitable motor, (not shown) throughbelt |96, 'driving shaft |91 and suitable gears, sprocket chains and 65shafting, indicatedin schematic representation in Fig. 1. A verticalshaft-|98 drives a closing machine bag supporting belt` conveyor 20|,and through suitable gearing, (schematically represented in Fig. 1)"drives the rollers 200, previously 70 mentioned;F The operating units ofthe closing machine comprise the bag supporting belt conveyor 20| bagmouth gripping belts 202' and 203 or m .and mo adapted no grip andgmdethe; 'j f `mouth of the bag successively through a ,sewing 75 head 2011,a tape applying device 205, tape squeezing rolls 206, and shearing means201. The sewing and sealing mechanism, preferably, is built inaccordance with the disclosure of the aforementioned application ofRobert N. Cundall and Lincoln A. Cundall, Serial No. 688,816, filedSeptember 9, 1933. The tape and thread shearing means 201 is preferablymade in accordance with the disclosure of copending application ofRobert N. Cundall and Lincoln A. Cundall, Serial No. 11,563, filed March18, 1935. The rolls 200. conveyor belt 201, gripping belts 202 and 203,sewing machine 2011, tape applying means 205 and 206, and shearing means201 are all driven by the independent motor (not shown) through belt106,

so as to operate independently of the filling-machine. Details of theforegoing means vmay be ascertained by inspection of the aforementionedapplications.

One form of an improvement whereby the advantages oflautomatic,continuous operation of are combined with the advantages of anintermittent filling machine is shown in Figs; 1, 2, 3, and 15, andcomprises bag receiving means constituting an improvement upon similarmechanism. described and claimed in the copending application of RobertN. Cundall and Lincoln A. Cundall, Serial No. 666,114, filed April 14,1933.- ,The belts 202 and 203, preferably, are sprocketed chain beltspassing about sprockets 210 and 211, respectively, the inner reaches ofthe belts being guided substantially in contact to grip and guide themouth of the bag. Sprocket y 210 is a double sprocket which drives aninterme- Y pivoted diate chain belt 212, driving a double sprocket 213.A. swinging belt guide 210 is pivoted to the shaft of sprocket 213 andcarries a sprocket 215 at its forward end about which passes a grippingbelt 216v driven byA sprocket 213. A lever 220 to the shaft of sprocket211 and provided with -a handle 221 is pivotally connected.. to a lever222, the opposite end of which is pivoted to the shaft of sprocket 215.A rod 223. adjustably mounted upon swinging vbelt guide 210 passesthrough a slot 225 in lever 220, an adjusting nut carried therebylimiting movement of the lever. When lever 220 is swung to the right, asin Fig.

Y `2,b elt-216 will be separated from belt 203, thereby tov l the bagreaching a providing an opening or a jaw within which the mouth of thebagmay be adjusted. When lever 220 is swung to the left, as in Fig.1sprocket 215 will be forced towards sprocket 211' and locked inposition by the toggle action of levers 220 and 222 and the .bag mouthwill' be clamped and gripped ready for forward movement. .j 1

If the bag closing machine were continuously operated, it can be seenthat a great length of tape and sewing thread would be drawn through themachine by the travelling bag. Means are provided automatically to stopthe machine upon position where its trailing edge is opposite sprocket.213. means comprises a feeler 2304 pivoted at 23| and urged intothe pathof the bags by a spring 232. The feeler will sense the presence of a bagand must be engaged by the forward edge of the bag, being placed by iwill operate. `As seen vin Fig. 15, feeler 230 operates a contact switch235 placed in series with a solenoid 240 (Fig. 29) operating the clutchfor driving theclosing machine. Also in series with switch 235 isalsolenoid, 231i.V The clamping of a bag between the swinging belt andthe fixed belt and in contactwith feelerl 230 closes Switch 235 sprocket210.

' supporting arms may be moved as a The preferred and prepares solenoid236 for operation. A switch 2 31 in series with the solenoid preventsits operation until the switch 231 is closed by depressing a lever, suchas foot treadle 238, or other suitable means. it can be seen thatmomentary closure of switch 231, when a bag is in position, will operatesolenoid 236 to close a switch 233, which will complete a holdingcircuit. The operator may return to the bag lling machine long beforethe bag has passed from the range of feeler 230, and the machine willautomatically stop as soon as the bag is so progressed. The operator maydetermine the approximate spacing of the bags in order that a minimumamount of sealing tape and sewing thread is wasted, and in order thatthe shears 201 may substantially bisect the connecting tape and threadbetween succeeding bags.

An alternative form of bag receiving means performing the functions ofthe previously described form is illustrated in Figs. 23 to 28inclusive. In Fig. 23 there is shown a fixed bag mouth gripping belt 203cooperating with a fixed bagmouth gripping belt 202', the former passingabout sprocket 211',

With the present embodiment, a more desirable construction is presented,since the movable bag receiving belt is adapted to be swung entirely outof the way of the operator in and the latter-passing about order thataccurate adjustment of the bag mouth 3 pending from a horizontal shaft256. Mounted in the bracket v 255 is a vertical shaft 251 which drivessprocket 251 and which is driven by a helical gear 258 and a drivinghelical gear 253 fixed to the shaft 256. The shaft 256 is supported by abearing larm 260 extending from the frame of the machine and a bearingarm 261 likewise extending from the frame of the inachine. The end ofthe shaft 256 adjacent bearing arm 261 has a helical gear 262 fixedthereto, meshing with and driven by a helical gear 263 fixed to avertical shaft 260 driven by sprocket 210'. A handle 210 is mounted uponthe belt guide 253 by means of which the belt 250 and its body aboutshaft 256, as diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 25.

In order that as. little time as possible will be utilized in swingingthe swinging belt assembly, a counter-weight for lifting the belt and alatching device forholding it in operative position are provided. Thecounter-weight comprises a weight 211, carried by rod the bearing ofsupporting arm 254. The counterweight is designed automatically `toraise the moving beltupon release ofthe latching device.

212, extending from Thelatching device comprises a latching arm 215Mounted upon belt., a lat'ching roller 210 over which the o Figs. y25and'26. 75

' provided with a handle 28|.

A rod 280 extending upward from arm 215 is vIn operating the device, thebag is rst positioned in proper vertical alignment with the movablebelt. The handie 210 is then grasped to swing the movable belt intocooperative relationship with the fixed belt, the operation of forcingthe movable belt downward causing roller 218 to roll down upon the camsurface 211 until the roller passes the hookend 218 which drops andlocks the device in oper, ative position. After the bag is fed into ytheclosing mechanism, the latching device is released simply by strikingthe handle 28|, thereby releasing roller 218.- A K In order that the bagmay be retained in accurate position, temporary holding means areprovided which are released by the operation of closing the swingingbelt. Preferably a pair of gripping means, one of which is illustratedin Fig. 28, are provided, each comprising a bracket 285 rising from theframe and supporting a fixed gripping plate 288. Bolt 281, fixed to theupper end oi' plate 288, supports a spacing member 288 and a looselymounted movable gripping plate 289. A second bolt 290, passing throughbolt plates, ex-

' plate 288 and is provided with nuts ing member 288, as shown in fullline invFigs. 25 and 26, and release of pressure causes spring 292 tomove the plate 289 to theposition shown in dotted outlinein Fig. 28. Themouth of a bag lthebag through the machine, there are provided brackets295 mounted upon belt-guide 253, eachprovided with an adjustableabutment 298 adapted to strike the upper end of plate 289 andopen thegripping means as shown in Fig. 28.

'Ihis second form of bag receiving means is of extreme advantage in thatthe freedom accurately to position the mouth of the 0 vided with guiderollers 304.

bag, and the mouth of the bag is not liable to become disarranged as itis progressed into the bag receiving means.

The progressing means for moving the filled bag is illustrated in Figs.18 to 22 pusher' 300 the machine. The angle is guided within an anglebar 383 supported by the frame of the machine and is pro- Angle bar 302also extends beyond the angle bar 303 and is passed between guiderollers 304 and 305 preventing lateral deviation of the angle bar. Thefree end of bar 30| carries a vertical rod 306 provided with a wheel 301rolling upon Ithe edge frame conveyor table 33. The pusher 300 isthereby rigidly fixed to a rigidly guided movable assembly. y f

In order that the pusher may be connected to the source of power. thereis provided a rack 3 I0, ed to the underside ofthe longitudinal anglebar 302, and by a shaft rear of the 3 l5. and a `3|2.l Shaft'3l2 extendstoward the frame through a supporting bearing velled gear '3 l 6,comprising' the n required size of the spring 382. meshing with a spurgear 3| ldriven driven element of a clutch, isloosely mounted upon theshaft. Gear 3|8 meshes with a bevelled gear 3|'L fixed to a longitudinaldrive-shaft 3|8 driven by a sprocket-chain 3|9 from the lshaft |91. Thedetails of the means whereby drive-shaft 3|8 is 5 continuously drivenwhile s haft |91 is only occasionally driven will be described later.Shaft 3 |8, being continuously driven, continuously drives gearv 3|8.The opposite element4 of the clutch comprises a pulley 325 fixed toshaft 3|2 by a l0 sliding key, and normally urged to disengaged positionby a spring 328. Pulley 325 is shifted longitudinally of shaft 3| 2 by aforked lever 321 pivoted at 328 to an extension of the frame. 'Ihe tipsof the forked end of lever 321 are provided l5 with rollers 328positioned between an anti-fric- .tion device 329, located adjacent acollar 330 at rack 3| 0, causing longitudinal movement of pusher 300toward the left, as in Fig. 20.

In order that the operator may control the spread of wedge members 340crank 349 fixed to a rod provided with a foot treadle 350. Depression ofthe treadle 350 from the position of Fig. 18 to the position of Fig. 20causes the spreading of the wedge members and engagement of the clutch.A spring 35| holds the linkage against return until it is manually orautomaticallyreturned. 'Ihe angular pitch of the vmatching faces ofwedge members 340 and 342 is such thatrotation of rod 34| `cannot becaused by theaction of spring 35| alone.l In order that the clutch maybe disengaged at the proper instant, there is provided an adjustableabutment 352, fixed to, traveling angle bar 302, and adapted to strikealdisengaging lever 353, fixed to rod 34|,

`which returns the linkage against the tension o1' 'Spring 35|.

As soonas the clutch isdisengaged, the pusher 300 ceases its forwardtravel and is returned by suitable mechanism, comprising the following:Mounted upon the angle bar 303 is a guiding bracket 380 through whichpasses a sliding rod 38|, attached to a spring 382 extending tothe 5frame of the machine, and which carries a double pulley 383 at its freeend. A cord 385 attached to a hook 388, mounted at the end of angle bar302, passes about a pul1ey'381 attached to a portion of the frame, thenabout pulley 383, a second fixed pulley388, and back to pulley 383 inthe fashion of a block and tackle. As the pusher moves forward under theinfluence of the rack and pinion, the distance between pulleys 383 and381 is shortened, thereby extending the spring l3152. Upon the 65release of the clutch, the spring 382, through the block and tacklearrangement, lwill return the pusher to its previous position.Obviously, the greater the number of pulleys used. the shorter will bethe travel of the rod 38| and the lesser the 70 As an adjunct tothespring and block and tackle, or as a separate returning means, thereis provided a cord 310 fix'ed to the pulley 325, passing around fixedpulleys 31|, and extending to a weight 312. As 75 will be raised,

the clutch is engaged, the weight and when the clutch is disengaged, theweight will unwind the cord yfrom the pulley, therebyA and causing thepusher to reposition. Even though the turning shaft dii turn to itsoriginal spring 362 may be of sucient strengththe arrangement of thepulley 325, cord 3l@ and weight tlf, is advisable as a governor. Ifdesired, however, the spring 362 may be dispensed with entirely, and theweight 3'l2 utilized both as a re-` turning means and as a governor toprevent' shock.

As previously mentioned, the shaft dit operating the bag pusher iscontinuously driven, but the operating mechanisms of the bag closingmachine such as the bag gripping belts, sewing machine, tape applier,etc., and their driving shaft itl are intermittently operated. Themechanism for accomplishing this driving from the same motor isrepresented in a convenient form in Figs. 29 and 30. The driving beltE96 from the motor passes about a pulley dit loosely mounted on shaftitl. The hub of pulley illu is extended and a sprocket dill is fixedthereto,

' the bag. About the time 'that the the sprocket-chain 3i@ and shaft @H8being driven thereby. Also fixed to sprocket dill and pulley lili@ isthe drivng element @02 of a clutch. The driven element mit of the clutchis keyed to shaft i9i, being capable of longitudinal movement along thekey, but incapable of relative rotation with respect to -the shaft.Adjacent the hub of clutch element W3 is loosely mounted a cam arm dil@which is held against rotative movement by a link M5 extending throughand resiliently fastened to a bracket @lut fixed to the frame of themachine. of cams ttl and litt, facing outwardly. Also loosely mounted'upon shaft itl is a matching cam arm di@ carrying matching cams dit andM2, facing inwardly. Arm di@ is fixed `to a link il i 5, the oppositeend of which comprises the core of the solenoid 2&0 (Fig. 15) which isactuated by the bag sensing device previously described. Actuation ofsolenoid 2li) causes the cams ddl and ment with clutch element M2, andcausing rotation of shaft lul to drive the bag closing mechanism. Theassemblage is held in position by a collar M5 and a second collar ditprovided with adjusting means Ml.v lThe above mechanism is a simple formof clutch engaging device, and other forms are of the same functions.

A brief statement of operation is as follows:

The upper corners of a bag are placed within the open raised jawsrf thegrippers. Lever 92 is pushed to the rear, engaging clutch therebyvinitiating a cycle of the filling machine. The grippers l3i) and :ilare closed and the scale container` is tripped todischarge the load intoentire load is in the bag. the grippers are lowered and may be spread,by reason of the pivoted gripping jaw, to collapsethe mouth of the bag.Substantially simultaneously the scale container closes itself and asucceeding charge is fed forward by screws d@ and il and weighed by thescale, which is then in readiness for the next operation. During thetime that the bag is being filled and lowered, bar 32 is rapidly andenergetically striking the side of the bag to settle the charge; Thegrippers are opened to release the bag and sharply raised to `normalposition, whereupon the clutch is disengaged. The filled bag is thenrolled within the scope of Ithe following claims. The cam arm 6M carriesa pair 'prising a relatively fixed spout through which the ners thereofafter course capable of achieving gli and forward on rollers 34 andoverrunning clutch rollers 200 into the space between swinging guide 2id(or 253) and the fixed rear belt, which space has been provided by theoperator as soon as grippers 30 and 3i have closed and released hisghands for such an operation. The bag mouth is adjusted as to height andarrangement of the plies, whereupon the swinging b elt is closed andtreadle 238 depressed as described. The bag trav- 'els forwardfor itsown length andwhatever additional spacethe opera-tor has providedwithin' the operating limits of feeler 23D. The operator, inthemeantime, picks up an empty bag, places it about the spout and proceedsto initiate a succeeding cycle. He isy now vfree to open the swingingbelt, inasmuch as the previous bag has had `suiiicient time to travelbeyond the range of feeltermines not to fill further bags,he may leavethe series of bags in the filling and closing machine, or he may causethem to be filled and sealed by manually actuating feeler 239 anddepressing trcadlel until the last bag has been ejected from themachine. It can be seen that all controls are readily available andrequire a minimum of time and motion on the operators part.

The present disclosure is of the preferred form of the invention andmodifications in part. Modifications in arrangement and detail may beapparent to those skilled in the art. We do not intend to be limited tothe present disclosure, but claim as our invention such modiiications ascome We claim: l. A bag filling and closing machine comprising means toll an open-mouthbag with a predetermined Aquantity of material, saidmeans cornmaterial flows into the bag and movable grippers adapted togrip the upper corners of the bag and hold its mouth about said spoutduring the filling of the bag, means to actuate said grippers to lowerthe bag after it is lled and to release the corit is lowered, `aconveying device extending beneath the filling means comprising a bagpus 'ng lmechanism actuated to move the iilledfbag forward from beneaththe filling means, and a 4pair of bag mouth gripping belts 50 positionedabove the forward end of said conveyor, one of said belts being mountedupon a pivoted guide having means associated therewith to separate saidbelts in order to `receive the mouth of the bag and to bring said beltstogether to grip the mouth ofthe bag for guidancethrough the closingmachine.y

2. A bag filling and closing machine comprising means to fill anopen-mouth bag with a predetermined quantity of material, said meanscomprising a relatively xed spout through which the material flows intothe bag and movable grippers adapted to grip the upper corners of thebag and hold its mouth about said spout during the filling of the bag,means to actuate said grippers to 6g lower the bag after it is filledand to release the corners thereof after itis lowered, a conveyorextendingI beneath the filling means .comprising a bag pushing mechanismactuated to move the illled'bag forward from beneath the filling means,and a pair/of bag lmouth gripping belts positioned above the forwardgndof the conveyor, one of said belts being .mounted upon a pivoted guidehaving a linkage associatedwith the free end thereof whereby said beltsmaybe divergently separated to receive lthe mouth of the bag and broughttogether to grip the mouth of the bag for guidance through the closingmachine.

3. A bag filling and closing machine comprising means to fill anopen-.mouth bag with a predetermined quantity` of material, said meanscomprising a relatively fixed4 spout through which the material flowslinto the bag and movable grippers adapted to grip the upper corners ofthe bag and hold its mouth about said spout during the filling of thebag, means to actuate said grippers to lowery the bag after it is llledand to release the corners thereof after it is lowered, a conveyorextending beneath the filling means comprising a. bag pushing mechanismactuatedto move the filled bag forward from be neath the filling means,and a pair of bag mouth gripping belts positioned above the forward endof the, conveyor, one of said belts being mounted upon a guide havingmeans associated therewith whereby said belt may be raised to provide aspace to receive the mouth of the bag and lowered to cause said belts togrip the mouth of the bag for guidance through the closing machine.

4. A bag filling and closing machine comprising means to fill anopen-mouth bag with a predetermined quantity of material, said meanscomprising a relatively fixed spout through which the material flowsinto the bag and movable grippers adapted to grip the upper corners ofthe bag and hold its mouth about said spout during the filling of thebag, means to actuate said grippers to lower the bag after it is filledand to release the corners thereof after it is lowered, a conveyingdevice extending beneath the lling means comprising a bag pushingmechanism actuated to move the filled bag forward from beneath thefilling means, -apair of bag mouth gripping belts positioned above theforward end of said conveyor, one of said belts being mounted upon apivoted guide having means associated therewith to space the same fromthe other of said belts to receive the mouth of the bag and to bringsaid belts together to grip the mouth of the bag for guidance throughthe closing machine, a driving means for said belts, and a controltherefor-comprising a feeler pivotally mounted adjacent the movablymounted belt to sense the presence of a bag within the grip of saidbelts.

5. A bag filling and closing machine comprising means to fill anopen-mouth bag with a predetermined quantity of material, said meanscomprising a relatively fixed spout through which the material flowsinto the bag and movable grippers adapted to grip the upper corners ofthe bag and hold its mouth about said spout during the lling of the bag,means to actuate said grippersto lower the bag after it is filled and torelease the corners thereof after it ls lowered, a conveying deviceextending beneath the fllling means comprising a bag pushing mechanism,actuated to move the filled bag forward from beneath the filling means,mouthv gripping belts positioned above the forward end of said conveyor,one of said belts being mounted upon a pivoted guide having meansassociated therewith to separate said belts in order to receive themouth of the bag and to bring said belts together to grip the mouth ofthe bag for'guidance through the closing machine, a driving means forsaid belts and a control therefor comprising a feeler pivotallyxnoungtecll adjacent the movable belt to sense the presenceof a bagwithin the grip of said belts, a

a pair of bagv preparatory circuit comprising a switch operated by saidfeeler and a manually operable switch in series therewith, and a holdingcircuit comprising a solenoid energized by said preparatory circuit.

6. In a bag closing mechanism,` a conveyor comprising a plurality ofrolls, each including an overrunning clutch whereby a filled bag may bemanually guided forward thereon or positively carried forward thereby,and a pair of bag mouth gripping belts positioned above said conveyor,one of said belts being mounted upon a pivoted guide having meansassociated therewith to separate said belts in orderto receive the mouthof the bag and to bring said belts together to grip the mouth .of thebag for guidance through the closing machine.

7. In a bag closingA mechanism, a conveyor comprising a plurality ofrolls, each including an overrunning clutch whereby a filled bag may bemanually guided forward thereon Aor positively carried forward thereby,and a pair of bag mouth gripping belts positioned above said conveyor,one of said belts being mounted upon a pivoted guide having a linkageassociated with the free end thereof whereby said belts may bedivergently separated to receive the mouth of :the bag andbroughttogether to grip the-mouth of the bag Ifor guidance through theclosing machine.

comprising a plurality of rolls, each' including an overrunning clutchwhereby a filled bag may be manually guided forward thereon orpositively carried forward thereby, a pair of bag mouth -gripping beltspositioned above said conveyor,

one of said belts being mounted upon a pivoted guide havingmeansassociated therewith to separate said belts in order to receive themouth of the bag and to bring said belts together to grip the mouth ofthe bag for guidance through the closing machine, a driving means-forsaid belt and a control therefor comprising a feeler plvot'ally mountedadjacent the movable belt to sense thev presence of a bag withinlthegrip of said belts. v

16.4In a bag closing mechanism, a conveyor comprising a plurality ofrolls, leach including an overrunning clutch whereby a filled bag may bemanually guided forward thereon or positively carried forward thereby,,a pair of bag mouth gripping belts positioned above saidconveyr, one ofsaid belts being mounted upon' a pivoted guide having means associatedtherewith to separate said belts in order to receive the mouth of theprovide a space to receive bag and to bring said belts together to gripthe a preparatory circuit comprising a switch operated by said feelerand amanually operable switch in series therewith, and a holding circuitcomprising a solenoid energized by said preparatory circuit.

11. In a bag closing mechanism a pair of bag mouth gripping beltsadapted to guide the mouth of the bag through the closing mechanism, oneof said belts being mounted upon a pivoted guide having means associatedtherewith whereby said belts may be separated to receive the mouth of abag and brought together to grip the mouth of the bag, and the other ofsaid belts being fixed.

12. In a bag closing machine, a conveyor upon which the bag issupported, a pair of bag mouth gripping belts positioned above saidconveyor, one of said belts being mounted upon a pivoted guide having alinkage associated with the free end thereof whereby said belts may bedivergently separated to receive the mouth of the bag and broughttogether to grip the mouth of the bag for guidance through the closingmachine, said conveyor and said belts being driven by the same source ofpower, and a control means therefor comprising a feeler pivotallymounted adjacent the movable belt to sense the presence of a bag withinthe grip of said belts.

machine, a conveyor upon which the bag is supported, a pair of bag mouthgripping belts positioned above said conveyor, one of said belts beingmounted upon a pivoted guide having a linkage associated with the freeend thereof whereby said belts may be divergently separated to receivethe mouth of the bag and brought together to grip the mouth of the bagfor guidance throughl the closing machine, said conveyor and said beltsbeing driven by the same source of power, and a control means thereforcomprising a feeler pivotally mounted adjacent the movable belt to sensethe presence of va bag within the grip of said belts, a preparatorycircuit comprising a switch operated by said feeler and a manuallyoperable switch in series therewith, and a holding circuit comprising asolenoid energized by said preparatory circuit.

14. In a filled bag closing mechanism, means to guide the mouth of thebag through the closing mechanism comprising a pair of opposed bag mouthgripping belts, one of said belts being separable from the other of saidbelts in order to receive the bag therebetween, and means to positionthe bag between said belts comprising a bag pushing device and a bagsupporting conveyor table upon which the filled bag is supported andmoved forward by said pushing device.l

15. In a filled bag closing to guide the mouth of the bag ing mechanismcomprising a pair of opposed bag mouth gripping belts, one of said beltsbeing separable from the other of said belts in order to receive the bagtherebetween, and means to position the bag between said beltscomprising a bag pushing device and a bag supporting conveyor table uponwhich the filled bag is supported and moved forward by said pushingdevice, said pushing device comprising a plate adapted to engage thefilled bag and means to connect said plate to a source of power.

16. In a filled bag closing mechanism, means to guide the mouth of thebag through the closmechanism, means through the closing mechanismcomprising a pair of opposed bag mouth gripping belts, one of said-beltsbeing separable from the other of said belts in order t-o receive thebag therebetween, and meansto position the bag between said a bagpushing device and a bag supporting conveyor table upon which the filledbag is supported and movedvforward by said pushing device, said pushingdevice comprising a plate adapted to engage the filled bag, means toconnect said plate to a source of power and a tripping device associatedtherewith to disconnect the plate from the source of power at the end ofits movement.

17. In a filled bag closing mechanism, means to guide the mouth of thebag through the closing mechanism comprising a pair of opposed bag mouthgripping belts, one of said belts being separable from the other of saidbelts in order to receive the bag therebetween, and means to positionthe bag between said belts comprising a bag pushing device and a bagsupporting conveyor table upon which the filled bag is supported andmoved forward by said pushing device, said pushing device comprising aplate adapted to engage the filled bag, means to connect said plate to asource of power, a tripping device associated therewith to disconnectthe plate from the source of power at the end of its movement, and

. means to return said plate to its starting position.

18. In a filled bag closing mechanism a pair of bag mouth grippingbelts, a pivoted guide upon which one of said belts is mounted, means toseparate said pivoted guide from proximity with the other of said beltsin order to provide a bag mouth receiving space, and temporary bag mouthholding clamps adapted to hold the mouth of the bag until said guide isreturned to cause said belts `to grip the mouth of the bag for guidancethrough the machine.

19. In a filled bag closing mechanism a pair of bag mouth grippingbelts, a pivoted guide upon which one of said belts is mounted, means toseparate said pivoted guide from proximity with the other of said beltsin order to provide a bag mouth receiving space, temporary bag mouthholding clamps adapted to hold the mouth of the bag until said guide isreturned to cause said belts to grip the mouth of the bag for guidancethrough the machine, and means associated with said guide to releasesaid temporary holding means.

20. In a lled bag closing mechanism a pair of bag mouth gripping belts,a pivoted guide upon which one of said belts is mounted, means toseparate said pivoted guide from proximity with the other of said beltsin order to provide a bag mouth receiving space, temporary bag mouthholding clamps adapted to hold the mouth of the bag until said guide isreturned to cause said belts to grip'the mouth of the bag for guidancethrough the machine, means associated with said guide to release saidtemporary holding means, and a feeler adapted to sense the presence of abag mouth within the grip of said clamps. v

WEBSTER NOYES BAKER. ROBERT N. CUNDALL.

belts comprising

